into an envelope.

"That will do, Connie. He will know that we need him on urgent
business."

"Jennie," said Constance, "will you take this to the mission house, to
Mr. Steadman?"

The maiden clutched the letter in her hand, rose, and started for the
door. She felt it was something important.

"And you will go quick?"

"Jennie go quick," was the response; "all same wind," and with that she
passed out of the room.

When once outside, Jennie paused and looked across to the Indian
village. There was a short cut, which would save her the longer way
around. This she took, and soon drew near the mission house. By this
trail she approached the building on the left side, through a small
clump of trees.

She was in the act of stepping into full view, when the sight of a man
approaching the cabin arrested her steps, and caused her to shrink back
a few paces. Not long was she left in doubt, for her keen eyes
detected the slinking form of Pritchen. That he was there on mischief
bent, she had no doubt, and she determined to watch his actions.
Leaving the trail, she skirted the edges of the bunch of trees, keeping
well within their shadows for some distance. Then she crossed an open
space, and stepped behind the very building where Pritchen had been
concealed. From this position she saw the wretch peering through the
window, and then enter the house.

With the speed of a deer, she hurried up the path, and, taking her
stand at the corner of the building, watched the door almost
breathlessly lest Pritchen should reappear. Satisfying herself that
she was secure, and could run to the back of the house, or take shelter
among the trees, she plucked up courage. Then she crept to the window
and looked in. At first she drew suddenly back, fearing she would be
seen. Finding, however, that the man did not look her way, she at
length maintained her ground.

It was easy to see everything quite plainly, from the placing of the
pokes into the chest, to the throwing of the key into the stove, and
the destruction of the picture. What it all meant, she could not tell,
and she wondered what had become of the missionary. When, however,
Pritchen had finished his cowardly work, and passed out into the night,
Jennie was nowhere to be seen. She had disappeared, bearing with her
the secret of the deed of darkness.

CHAPTER XIX

CARIBOU SOL

Another night had shut down over the great Yukon valley, a night of
wind and st